Ohio Governor Proposes Ending Bottled Water Tax

COLUMBUS -- Bottled water would no longer be taxed in Ohio under the budget plan Gov. John Kasich recently submitted to the state Legislature.

Current law defines "food" as liquid, solid, frozen, dried or dehydrated substances, and exempts it from state sales tax if it is consumed away from where it is purchased. However, bottled, distilled, mineral and carbonated water and ice are currently subject to the sales tax. In Kasich's proposal, bottled water is designated a food for tax purposes and would be exempt from sales tax.

Bottled water is one of many subjects included in the governor's 3,000-page budget plan, which is making its way through hearings.